Since 1962, the year in which Cameroon became independent, the National Youth Festival has been celebrated every year on February 11.
The objective is to educate youth on the values of the country and the meaning of the national flag, anthem and motto.
This year, however, this recurrence has a new meaning. It’s the first On-line National Youth Festival as it followed the inauguration of the first official internet connection with Fontem in the region of Lebialem.
A small delegation of Roman Schools is in Fontem from February 8 to 16. The delegation is composed of the three schools that participate in the Digital Bridge project: B. Russell, I. Kant and the 157th Circolo Didattico in Torrimpietra. Also present in Fontem are the Fondazione Mondo Digitale Schools Coordinator Romano Santoro and Communications Manager Elisa Amorelli.
The days are dense with appointments and meetings, both official and unofficial. Elisa was not able to send us her first impressions until late at night from the Centro Mariapoli Internet Centre.
The event was inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, who has an ambitious plan for school reforms calling for 55 new schools to extend information and training to a further 10,000 young men and women. Sixteen new cultural institutions have already been inaugurated and more than 1000 newly trained teachers paraded with their students.
Elisa wrote: “The Roman students are extremely excited. They are not used to this energy. The enthusiasm is contagious. Everything here is loud, colourful and bold, even the air. They have dedicated a little wooden house to the Italian delegation as a symbol of the union between Italy and Cameroon...”
See the first photos sent to us by Elisa
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